Helping Veterans and Their Families Receive VA Benefits

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VetsFirst, a veterans service program of United Spinal Association, is offering a free interactive online veterans help center, Ask VetsFirst, to expedite America's veterans in receiving critical benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Ask VetsFirst directly connects veterans with disabilities, as well as their spouses, dependents, and survivors, to national service officers who are experienced in navigating the intricate claims process for VA benefits.

Visitors to Ask VetsFirst simply submit their benefits-related questions about healthcare, disability compensation, and a variety of other VA benefits along with their contact information, and receive prompt responses either by phone or e-mail.

"Ask VetsFirst also educates veterans about new VA benefits they may not be aware of, such as compensation now available to many Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides who are presently living with Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, and chronic B cell leukemia. It also provides information on how to obtain such benefits," says Heather Ansley, director of Veterans Policy at VetsFirst/United Spinal Association.

According to Ansley, the VA's backlog in processing claims is of major concern for many veterans who submit questions to VetsFirst. Many must wait months to receive benefits they desperately need. Reforming the VA claims process is currently VetsFirst's top priority.

VetsFirst not only provides services for veterans seeking VA benefits but it also helps veterans and their families by advocating for new benefits or increases to existing benefits, such as those included in provisions of the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010.

This legislation includes increases to the Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance program, for which VetsFirst strongly advocated, to help ensure families and dependents of qualifying veterans with disabilities will be able to keep their homes in the event of the veteran's death.

The legislation also includes a provision that increases the amount of funding available to veterans with disabilities toward the purchase of an automobile. Further, veterans with severe burn injuries will be able to receive assistance with the purchase of an automobile and special adaptive equipment.

VetsFirst will continue its tradition of serving veterans by always providing direct representation to individual veterans and their families; legal representation in federal court appeals of claims denied by the VA, legislative advocacy before Congress and advocacy for the entire veteran population through broad-impact class action lawsuits.

About VetsFirst - VetsFirst (www.vetsfirst.org) provides a network of national veterans service officers and attorneys to provide assistance and representation in securing health care, disability compensation, rehabilitation, education and other benefits for its members before the Department of Veterans Affairs' and in the federal courts.

About United Spinal Association - United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It has played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with spinal cord disorders.